Nicole Johnstone / Stuff
Sheree Carey says Invercargill needs a livelier nightlife.
Sheree Carey wants to see a more diverse nightlife in Invercargill rather than continue with the “copy and paste” bars in town.
The director of the Southland Business Chamber, Carey, has announced that she is running for the Invercargill Licensing Trust in the October local elections.
Research done by the chamber, around attracting and retaining staff in the region, had shown that people didn’t think Invercargill had a vibrant and diverse nightlife or cool bars to go to, she said.
“I’d like to see changes in that area, thinking outside the box with our bars instead of the copy and paste that we’ve had in the past…that’s the feedback we’re getting, that there’s not a lot of diversity.”
READ MORE:
* 15,000 jobs in Southland supported by wage subsidy
* Southland companies in ‘good place’ to tackle lockdown: Chamber
* Invercargill Licensing Trust candidates compete for board seat
Carey said she had traveled the world and seen “lots of cool things” happening in hospitality that could be implemented in the city.
“As we continue the good work ILT is doing in the community, we need to be more forward-looking and create a vibrant city that our young people are proud to call home, and that attracts more people to our region,” she said.
The trust’s new Langlands Hotel would have new bars, but more was needed, she said.
“I don’t think we should stop at the wine bar.”
She also wanted more of Southland’s products on the menus.
Carey, who has been the chamber’s chief executive for six years, believed her “proven leadership experience and fresh ideas” would drive the ILT forward over the next three years.
Carey said she was a passionate Southlander who was interested in the community. She wanted to serve on the board of the trust, where funding decisions were made for nonprofits, sports and community groups, and the charity hospital, among others.
“It’s the community side that I’m interested in.”
Invercargill was on the brink of something special, and the city needed strong leadership to make sure it grabbed every opportunity, she said.
She also sits on the board of Coin South, Southland Community Law Centre, Radio Southland Trust, a number of community and business committees and is a co-founder of the KIND Women network.